Koreans Fearful of Racial Backlash
By Ryu Jin
The Korea Times, Staff Reporter
The South Korean government hopes that the tragic Virginia massacre will neither strain South Korea-U.S. relations nor stir up racial prejudice or retaliatory actions.
The statement was released after President Roh Moo-hyun expressed deep condolences to all Americans, especially the bereaved families of the victims in the shooting spree.
``I and the people of this country are greatly shocked and saddened by the tragedy in the United States,’’ he said in a statement televised across the country. ``We hope U.S. society will overcome this sadness and regain tranquility as early as possible.’’
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo also expressed deep sadness and gave words of comfort to the bereaved families of the victims on behalf of the South Korean people and the government.
Put on high alert, the government has been making efforts to ensure the rampage would not lead to any ethnic confrontation in the United States.
Virginia police identified the gunman who killed 32 people and wounded dozens in the rampage as Cho Seung-hui, a 23-year-old South Korean student majoring in English literature there. He later took his own life and his motives were not known immediately.
Roh, who has already expressed condolences twice the previous day, held an emergency meeting at Chong Wa Dae to discuss follow-up measures, according to officials.
A presidential aide who attended the meeting said that the participants expressed hope that the incident would not have too much negative influence on South Korea-U.S. relations.
``We hope that the tragedy would not stir up any racial prejudice or retaliatory acts against our people,’’ he said. ``We would take extra precautions to calm down the Korean-American community in confusion and shock and prevent possible damage to other Koreans.’’
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Song Min-soon also sent a personal letter of condolences for the victims to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, calling the incident a ``tragedy that should have never taken place.’’
Song also convened an emergency meeting the previous night and decided to dispatch a task force to the U.S. as part of efforts to minimize the fallout of the incident.
Officials at the ministry were concerned over a possible backlash against South Korean residents living in the U.S. and the negative impact on the alliance, recenetly strengthened by the conclusion of a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) on April 2.
``We are afraid that the incident could deal a serious blow to the national image and status as the world’s 11th largest economy,’’ a ministry official said. ``We are also trying to minimize the negative impacts on the general relations between the two countries.’’
South Korean politicians were quick to call for concrete government measures to prevent the tragedy from causing any damage to Koreans living in the U.S. and straining the alliance between the two countries.
``I can’t contain my shock and sorrow,’’ Uri Party Chairman Chung Sye-kyun said. ``These kinds of incidents can stoke various kinds of worries, and the disturbance should be put under control as quickly as possible.’’
``I express my deep sorrow for the victims and their family members,’’ said Chairman Kang Jae-sup of the main opposition Grand National Party. ``I also hope the incident will not cause a crack in South Korea-U.S. ties.’’
The Korea Times, Staff Reporter
The South Korean government hopes that the tragic Virginia massacre will neither strain South Korea-U.S. relations nor stir up racial prejudice or retaliatory actions.
The statement was released after President Roh Moo-hyun expressed deep condolences to all Americans, especially the bereaved families of the victims in the shooting spree.
``I and the people of this country are greatly shocked and saddened by the tragedy in the United States,’’ he said in a statement televised across the country. ``We hope U.S. society will overcome this sadness and regain tranquility as early as possible.’’
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo also expressed deep sadness and gave words of comfort to the bereaved families of the victims on behalf of the South Korean people and the government.
Put on high alert, the government has been making efforts to ensure the rampage would not lead to any ethnic confrontation in the United States.
Virginia police identified the gunman who killed 32 people and wounded dozens in the rampage as Cho Seung-hui, a 23-year-old South Korean student majoring in English literature there. He later took his own life and his motives were not known immediately.
Roh, who has already expressed condolences twice the previous day, held an emergency meeting at Chong Wa Dae to discuss follow-up measures, according to officials.
A presidential aide who attended the meeting said that the participants expressed hope that the incident would not have too much negative influence on South Korea-U.S. relations.
``We hope that the tragedy would not stir up any racial prejudice or retaliatory acts against our people,’’ he said. ``We would take extra precautions to calm down the Korean-American community in confusion and shock and prevent possible damage to other Koreans.’’
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Song Min-soon also sent a personal letter of condolences for the victims to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, calling the incident a ``tragedy that should have never taken place.’’
Song also convened an emergency meeting the previous night and decided to dispatch a task force to the U.S. as part of efforts to minimize the fallout of the incident.
Officials at the ministry were concerned over a possible backlash against South Korean residents living in the U.S. and the negative impact on the alliance, recenetly strengthened by the conclusion of a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) on April 2.
``We are afraid that the incident could deal a serious blow to the national image and status as the world’s 11th largest economy,’’ a ministry official said. ``We are also trying to minimize the negative impacts on the general relations between the two countries.’’
South Korean politicians were quick to call for concrete government measures to prevent the tragedy from causing any damage to Koreans living in the U.S. and straining the alliance between the two countries.
``I can’t contain my shock and sorrow,’’ Uri Party Chairman Chung Sye-kyun said. ``These kinds of incidents can stoke various kinds of worries, and the disturbance should be put under control as quickly as possible.’’
``I express my deep sorrow for the victims and their family members,’’ said Chairman Kang Jae-sup of the main opposition Grand National Party. ``I also hope the incident will not cause a crack in South Korea-U.S. ties.’’
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